I'm exploring the best approach for a setup where two users need to run SolidWorks on a single workstation with one RTX 2000 Ada GPU. Here's the hardware we're working with:
- Core Ultra 7 CPU
- 64 GB RAM
- RTX 2000 Ada (16 GB)
- NVMe storage
- Windows 11 Pro
User 1 is the main CAD operator dealing with large assemblies on a daily basis, while User 2 primarily does admin work but occasionally needs to edit SolidWorks files. The main challenge is that we only have one GPU, and I'd like to avoid complex solutions if possible.
Can this GPU be practically shared between these two users running SolidWorks simultaneously? Is vGPU supported on this card? If I set up Proxmox or ESXi with GPU passthrough, will I be restricted to allocating the entire GPU to a single virtual machine? Has anyone managed to run two SolidWorks users on one GPU without issues? We're open to buying licenses; I'm just looking for a stable long-term solution without overcomplicating things.
5 Answers
One way to avoid the hassle is to explore cloud VDI solutions. There are providers that specialize in Autodesk and likely similar options for SolidWorks. This setup allows the admin user to log in through a web portal and spin up their own VM for SolidWorks, streamlining the process without needing a physical second workstation.
Honestly, just suggest buying a second workstation. The RTX 2000 Ada isn't the most expensive card out there, and trying to make this setup work with VDI will only lead to frustrated users and wasted resources in the long run.
Investing another $2500 into a second workstation will probably save way more money and time than trying to force this setup to work.
I think there's no ideal way around this. A cheaper or older GPU might just be the most efficient route, saving you from complications with licensing and support that could arise with a more complex solution. A solid mobile workstation could work too, like the ThinkPad P16.
Diving into your questions:
1. Sharing the RTX 2000 Ada for two SolidWorks sessions? Probably not feasible.
2. As for vGPU, it’s not supported on this card.
3. If you set up Proxmox or ESXi, yes, you'd have to allocate the whole GPU to one VM.
4. Running two users on a single workstation isn't practical without specific setups and licensing, and even then, it could lead to performance issues splitting resources.
Just be cautious with workloads; VRAM limits can cause significant slowdowns if exceeded.
If the power user works with large assemblies, splitting the GPU resources could lead to significant render times and lags due to VRAM limits. You'd want to avoid that performance drop.
Could there be a way to allow both users to log into the same OS while sharing the GPU effectively? You might get some success with just Windows Server, possibly without needing additional licenses since it’s just two users. But keep in mind that if you go with dedicated VMs, GPU passthrough will lock the GPU to a single VM.
The ideal setup would have the heavy user on the host and the second on a VM, so they can work together without conflicts. Both need to access files at the same time.
That route has been too pricey in my region, so they’re hoping for something more economical on-premises.